Greece’s radical leftist party, Syriza, is leading the country’s parliamentary election, claiming 36 percent of the vote, and leaving the ruling New Democracy party in second place with 28 percent, according to the preliminary results.

"Greece leaves behind catastrophic austerity, it leaves
behind fear and authoritarianism, it leaves behind five years of
humiliation and suffering," Tsipras told thousands of
cheering supporters at a rally in Athens.

"The Greek people have spoken and we all respect their
decision. I have a clear conscience," Samaras said in a
televised statement. "New Democracy will remain ready to play
a decisive role in future developments, as the guarantors of the
country's European course."

Meanwhile, the leader of the country’s right-wing Independent
Greek party, Panos Kammenos, has confirmed he is willing to form
a coalition with Syriza. Kammenos said he has called Tsipras to
congratulate him and to offer his party’s support for Syriza’s
anti-bailout policy. Independent Greek is set to gather just
under 5 percent of the vote.

The first official results have been announced at approximately
1920 GMT, with the outcome of the vote to be finalized on Monday
morning.

Centrist party To Potami (The River) and the far-right Golden
Dawn party are in tight competition for third place, with both
attaining 6.4 to 8 percent of the vote, according to a joint poll
by Metron Analysis, GPO, Alco, MRB, Marc.

Syriza (Coalition of the Radical Left), which is headed by
40-year-old Alexis Tsipras, rose to popularity after it promised
to renegotiate Greek debt and put an end to austerity in the
country.

In Greece, a political party requires between 36 and 40 percent
of the vote in order to secure an outright win, with the exact
figure depending on the share of the vote taken by parties that
failed to pass the 3 percent threshold required to enter
parliament.

According to the exit polls, seven parties are on the way to
making it into the new Hellenic Parliament, which is comprised of
300 MPs.

One hundred and fifty one seats are required for a party to form
a government on its own.

“It is a historic victory, we still have to see if it will be
a big historic victory. It sends a message against austerity and
in favor of dignity and democracy,” Panos Skourletis, Syriza
spokesman, told Greek Mega TV.

A senior New Democracy party member, health minister Makis
Voridis, has conceded defeat to Syriza in the elections.

“We lost. The extent of that result is not yet clear,”
Voridis told Mega TV.

If the results of the exit polls are officially confirmed, Syriza
will become the first ruling anti-austerity party in Europe.